by our College Data Analytics TeamDo you love learning about plants and how things grow? There are millions of plant varieties growing on our green earth. Major in Botany / Plant Biology to study these plants. You will learn how they function, what they look like, how they are related, where they grow, how they have evolved, and how people use plants.
The many plants on our earth serve vital functions for human survival. For starters, we need plants for energy and for oxygen. These powerful and beautiful organisms are also used to create many of the remedies and medicines we use today. Plants are so powerful they can affect climate, the water cycle, and our everyday life. As a Botany Major you get to immerse yourself in this incredible world.
Courses that you will come across in this major include: biochemistry, field ecology, genetics, microbiology, photosynthesis, the study of algae, plant anatomy, plant physiology, plant evolution, plant taxonomy, and the study of ferns.
Concentrations in botany include: Botany/Plant Biology, Plant Pathology, Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology.
A degree in Botany/Plant Biology involves the study of Botany/plant Biology. Continue reading for the key facts every botany/plant biology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering botany/plant biology programs.
In the U.S., botany/plant biology is a popular field of study, with 763 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Botany/Plant Biology Schools ranking analyzes these 57 schools to determine the best overall colleges for botany/plant biology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of botany/plant biology programs later in this article.
Studies in Botany/Plant Biology emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations botany/plant biology graduates commonly enter.
If you like to hike, garden or camp, it could be an indication that you will enjoy this major. Students should have a love for nature and the environment. Botany will require field work where you will observe plants in their natural habitat.
Classes will include both lectures and labs. Lab work will help reinforce what you learn during lectures. Students will learn how to completely break down the biological systems of a particular plant. This will provide you the ability to learn plant anatomy, organization of their cells and plant organs. Your classes will require you to write lab reports, so you will need strong writing skills. You will also take exams with short answer questions.
Students should be comfortable working on group projects, as well as spend many hours on their own doing research in a lab. We suggest forming study groups to work through difficult problems. Don't be afraid to speak to your professors; they are here to help you succeed. You will work through real world problems with your professors, such as the extinction of certain plants and the invasion of others and how we can change it.
The skill set developed in a botany/plant biology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a botany/plant biology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several botany/plant biology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 3 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 353 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 181 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 226 |
People currently working in careers related to botany/plant biology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 31.2% |
| Master’s degree | 19.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 19.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 16.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.0% |
| Some college courses | 2.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.6% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in botany/plant biology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A major in Botany/Plant Science provides graduates with a broad set of skills they can use in a variety of careers. Graduates can become marine or freshwater biologists, or work on farms or in a tropical forest developing new medicines. Graduates also find work in museums, botanical gardens or arboretums. Other positions include workers for the U.S. Forest Service. This degree will allow you work in many different fields because it is very diverse. Some botanists will earn their Ph.D., however that is not necessary unless you want to conduct research or teach at a college. Those with advanced degrees are often able to obtain higher-paying positions.
Studying botany/plant biology can lead to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to botany/plant biology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to botany/plant biology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | 172,528 | 3.7% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of botany/plant biology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $32,663 |
| 4 years | $39,154 |
| 5 years | $38,098 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for botany/plant biology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers botany/plant biology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $59,587 |
| Biologists | $54,070 |
With 57 different botany/plant biology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased botany/plant biology school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in botany/plant biology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Botany/Plant Biology | 538 |
| Plant Pathology/Phytopathology | 151 |
| Botany/Plant Biology, Other | 47 |
| Plant Physiology | 15 |
| Plant Molecular Biology | 12 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biology, General | 101,585 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 13,820 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 12,819 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 11,175 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 9,295 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 6,355 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 4,711 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | 4,612 |
| Biotechnology | 3,869 |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 3,638 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
